They play Friday in Rome.

They play Friday in Rome.

In a bizarre scheduling quirk, the Friday match between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will be the first meeting of the tennis stars since 2011.

Since Murray defeated Nadal in the Tokyo final on Oct. 9, 2011, there have been a total of 46 matches between members of the Big Four (which also includes Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer). None of the six other head-to-head Big Four matchups have happened less than seven times since then.

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

How many times have they played since Oct. 9, 2011?

Nadal vs. Djokovic — 11 times

Murray vs. Djokovic — 10 times

Djokovic vs. Federer — 10 times

Nadal vs. Federer — 8 times

Murray vs. Federer — 7 times

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

Since then, Murray has faced top-40 player Florian Mayer four times and saw Benjamin Becker in back-to-back tournaments when the German was ranked No. 92 and 105. Heck, he’s played the retired Andy Roddick more recently.

There are two reasonable explanations for the lack of Nadal-Murray matches, both of which have a big “but” attached.

1. Murray underperforms in Masters 1000 events.

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

In the 19 such tournaments played since his last showdown with Nadal, Murray has been eliminated 10 times in the fourth round or earlier. Given their respective rankings, it’s been impossible to face Nadal before the quarterfinals. (But it’s not as if their rankings have ever precluded them from playing prior to a final of a major event. Nadal and Murray have never been Nos. 1 and 2 at the same time.)

2. Murray isn’t great on clay.

Nadal faces, and dispatches, a lot of players on clay. With Murray not getting far in clay-court events, there’s less opportunity to play Nadal.

(USA TODAY Sports)

Both of these have an obvious counterpoint: Neither factor has stopped Murray from playing Djokovic or Federer 17 times since last facing Nadal.

Whatever the reason, the Murray-Nadal drought is an unfortunate oddity that gets rectified on Friday. Finally.

How have Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray gone three years without playing?

The pair play on Friday in Rome for the first time since 2011.

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